Avalanches can be triggered in the old snow even by one sole skier on shady slopes above 2000m, mostly medium-sized releases. Freshly generated snowdrift accumulations can be triggered by one sole skier, esp. on shady slopes. Caution urged at the foot of rock walls and behind protruberances in the terrain, and in gullies and bowls. Due to daytime warming and solar radiaation, moist loose-snow avalanches are possible, mostly small releases on very steep sunny slopes. On very steep grass-covered slopes glide-snow avalanches are possible, also medium sized releases.
Snowpack
dp.1: deep persistent weak layer dp.10: springtime scenario
Clear skies widespread. Due to low temperatures and low air moisture, near-surface crusts form above 2400m. In the lowermost part of the snopwpack there are faceted, expansively metamorphosed weak layers evident, esp. above 2000m. Fresh snowdrift accumulations are being deposited atop soft layers.
Tendency
Caution urged towards weak layers in the old snow
Danger level
1800m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
1800m
Snowpack
Tendency
Danger level
1900m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
1900m
Wet snow
Small to medium sized moist slides and avalanches possible
Avalanches can be triggered in the old snow even by one sole skier on shady slopes above 2000m, mostly medium-sized releases. Due to daytime warming and solar radiaation, moist loose-snow avalanches are possible, mostly small releases on very steep sunny slopes. On very steep grass-covered slopes glide-snow avalanches are possible, mostly small sized releases, esp. on very steep sunny slopes.
Snowpack
dp.1: deep persistent weak layer dp.10: springtime scenario
Clear skies widespread. Due to low temperatures and low air moisture, near-surface crusts form above 2400m. In the lowermost part of the snopwpack there are faceted, expansively metamorphosed weak layers evident, esp. above 1900m.
Tendency
Due to lower temperatures and low air moisture the snowpack is consolidating
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
Treeline
Wet snow
In high altitudes and in all expositions: fresh instable snowdrift!
Avalanche danger iabove the treeline is moderate and below that low. The main problem is fresh snowdrift which has formed in all expositions dur to turning winds. The amount of danger spots is increasing with height. Small to medium slab avalanches can be triggered by small additional loads.. Caution in steep entries, in gullies and bowls and in general on slopes behind ridgelines. Small spontaneous loose-snow avalanches coming from extremely steep, rocky terrain on sunny slopes are possible.
Snowpack
Due to northern winds snowdrift depositis have formed on southern expositions. Weak layers are found in the transition to the snow base in all expositions. The snow base itself ist predominantly stable. Due to sun radiation the snow can loose its stability on the surface.
Tendency
The avalanche danger doesn´t significantly change even with the high-pressure system influence and increasing temperatures.
Danger level
2200m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
2200m
Wind slab
2400m
On very steep N/W facing slopes, assess with caution the weak old snow. Fresh drifts are prone to triggering over small areas.
Avalanche danger is moderate above 2200m, below that altitude danger is low. Medium-sized slab avalanches can be triggered by one sole skier in a few steep spots above 2200m. If a fracture occurs it can reach down to more deeply embedded layers in the snowpack and the release grow to medium size. The danger zones are difficult to recognize, occur esp. on very steep W/N facing slopes. Caution urged esp. at entry points into very steep gullies and bowls. During the course of the day, naturally triggered loose-snow avalanches can be expected in extremely steep south-facing terrain. On steep grass-covered slopes, isolated small glide-snow avalanches are possible in isolated cases.
Snowpack
The 5-15 cm of fresh snow/graupel from the last 24 hrs has been transported by northerly winds, including the often well consolidated and moistened (above 2400m) fresh snow from last week (30-60cm). On very steep shady slopes at high altitudes, this snow was deposited atop faceted, expansively metamorphosed snow. Due to massive settling on Saturday, the sink-in depth in all aspects is low (5-20cm).
Tendency
Likelihood of snowdrift accumulations triggering will gradually diminish
Danger level
2200m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
2200m
Wind slab
2400m
Caution: weak layers in the old snow
Avalanches can be triggered in the old snow even by one sole skier on shady slopes above 2000m, mostly medium-sized releases. Freshly generated snowdrift accumulations can be triggered by one sole skier, esp. on shady slopes. Caution urged at the foot of rock walls and behind protruberances in the terrain, and in gullies and bowls. Due to daytime warming and solar radiaation, moist loose-snow avalanches are possible, mostly small releases on very steep sunny slopes. On very steep grass-covered slopes glide-snow avalanches are possible, also medium sized releases.
Snowpack
dp.1: deep persistent weak layer dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind
Clear skies widespread. Due to low temperatures and low air moisture, near-surface crusts form above 2400m. In the lowermost part of the snopwpack there are faceted, expansively metamorphosed weak layers evident, esp. above 2000m. Fresh snowdrift accumulations are being deposited atop soft layers above 2400m.
Tendency
Caution: weak layers in the old snow
Danger level
2400m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2400m
Caution: freshly generated snowdrift accumulations at high altitudes
Fresh snow and drifts are triggerable esp. on steep shady slopes. One sole skier can trigger a small-to-medium loose-snow or slab avalanche. Apart from the danger of being buried in snow masses, the risks of being swept along and forced to take a fall require adequate caution. On steep grass-covered slopes with sufficient snow on the ground or atop smooth ground, isolated small-to-medium glide-snow avalanches are possible. In rocky terrain, increasingly frequent slides and small loose-snow avalanches are possible.
Snowpack
The fresh snow which has fallen since Thursday has in the interim settled and increasingly consolidated at intermediate altitudes due to solar radiation. On steep slopes it is still loose and soft. Fresh snow and small drifts lie deposited on shady slopes atop expansively metamorphosed, soft layers, often blanketing graupel, bonding only moderately good. The below average snowpack is well consolidated. On sunny slopes and at lower altitudes the fresh snow will fall on bare ground.
Tendency
Receding danger of dry-snow avalanches. Due to daytime warmth, increasingly frequent wet-snow avalanches.
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Snowpack
Tendency
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
Wet snow
Isolated danger zones. Wet loose-snow avalanches possible on very steep sunny slopes.
Avalanches can be triggered in the old snow even by one sole skier on shady slopes above 2000m, mostly medium-sized releases. Due to daytime warming and solar radiaation, moist loose-snow avalanches are possible, mostly small releases on very steep sunny slopes. On very steep grass-covered slopes glide-snow avalanches are possible, mostly small sized releases, esp. on very steep sunny slopes.
Snowpack
dp.10: springtime scenario dp.1: deep persistent weak layer
Since Friday, 20-30cm of fresh snow has been registered above 1800m, locally more. High air moisture has moistened the snowpack esp. above 2400m. Heavily clouded skies mean the snowpack cannot firm up during the nocturnal hours. More deeply embedded inside the snowpack on shady slopes are faceted, expansively metamorphosed weak layers, esp. above 2000m. Fresh snowdrift accumulations have been deposited atop soft layers esp. above 2000m.
Tendency
Low temperatures and low air moisture will lead to a gradual stabilization of the snowpack
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
Wet snow
Small moist and wet loose-snow avalanches are possible in the sunshine
Avalanche danger is low. In isolated cases, new snow can be a problem. Small loose-snow slides can trigger naturally in extremely steep terrain wherever sufficient snow has fallen due to solar radiation.
Snowpack
Widespread 20cm of new snow, deposited atop a stable old snowpack or bare ground. In near surface layers the fresh fallen snow is often deposited atop a thin melt-freeze crust or a thoroughly wet old snowpack. The snowpack basis is wet over far-reaching areas.
Tendency
Transition to springtime conditions, including daytime rise in avalanche danger
Danger level
Caution: small-area drifts and increasingly frequent slides and small loose-snow avalanches
Avalanche danger is low. Isolated danger zones occur esp. in ridgeline terrain, on shady steep slopes and in extremely steep terrain. One sole skier can trigger a small-to-medium loose-snow or slab avalanche. Apart from the danger of being buried in snow masses, the risks of being swept along and forced to take a fall require adequate caution. On steep grass-covered slopes with sufficient snow on the ground or atop smooth ground, isolated small-to-medium glide-snow avalanches are possible. In rocky terrain, slides and small loose-snow avalanches are possible.
Snowpack
The fresh snow which has fallen since Thursday has in the interim settled and increasingly consolidated at intermediate altitudes due to solar radiaiton. On steep slopes it is still loose and soft. Fresh snow and small drifts lie deposited on shady slopes atop expansively metamorphosed, soft layers, often blanketing graupel, bonding only moderately good. The below average snowpack is well consolidated. On sunny slopes and at lower altitudes the fresh snow will fall on bare ground.
Tendency
Transition to springtime conditions, including daytime rise in avalanche danger and increasingly frequent wet-snow avalanches
Danger level
Danger of falling outweighs that of being buried in snow masses
Avalanche danger is low. Isolated small loose-snow naturally triggered avalanches are possible or can be triggered by one sole skier. Danger zones for small slab avalanches in the snowdrifts occur seldom on very steep N/E facing slopes at high altitudes. On steep grass-covered slopes, isolated small glide-snow avalanches are possible.
Snowpack
The shallow, generally stable snowpack has consolidated well. About 5-10cm of fresh snow lies atop a melt-freeze crust mostly capable-of-bearing-loads.
